Age is only a number to two performers at jam session

Two performers at Wednesday’s West Texas Western Swing Festival informal jam sessions showed age is only a number.
Leddy Bragg performed at her second festival this week and is not a teenager.
Bragg, 12, began singing gospel songs at church four years ago in her hometown of Graham. The church band played Western swing music, and having grown up participating in rodeo events, Bragg was familiar with the genre.
“Some of my big influences and favorite artists were Leon Rausch, Billy Mata and Jason Roberts,” Bragg said. “And I’ve gotten to play with those guys now.”
Bragg and the church band began performing at other events. Bragg performed at her first non-church event in 2013, singing at the Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest Showcase in Wichita Falls. Bragg and the band continued to play at larger events, and in October played in front of 2,000 people at the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium in Ruidoso, N.M.
“I wasn’t really nervous about it,” Bragg said. “I get more nervous about performing in front of small crowds. Big crowds don’t really get to me.”
As she has continued to perform, Bragg has faced a few obstacles trying to perform on the Western swing circuit. Bragg said there have been times when her band was not allowed to play a venue because the establishment has age restrictions regarding patrons.
Bragg said some places have made exceptions by allowing her to play despite her age. Because of her appearance, maturity and voice, Bragg often gets mistaken for someone about twice her age.
“People are usually pretty shocked when I tell them my age,” Bragg said. “I had to show my passport once to prove my age to somebody.”
Last summer, Bragg and her band performed at the Western Swing Festival. They returned this year, with Bragg singing and playing guitar, an instrument she began playing six weeks ago.
Though she still cuts horses, singing is Bragg’s true passion, and she hopes to pursue a career in music.
“I guess the key is just never give up,” Bragg said. “There’s a lot of cruel people in this business, and you just need to believe in yourself.”
Also performing at the festival was Arlita Damron, of Hamlin, who learned how to play piano when she was five. At age 92, Damron still enjoys performing.
“I still play one to three nights a week and about two to three hours a night,” Damron said. “I don’t read music, I just play by ear.”
Damron said she grew up loving all types of music and enjoyed playing it. At the age of 10, her older brother taught her how to play guitar. She played for years in the Westerneers band.
She has played at festivals throughout the U.S., including the Bob Wills Day Festival in Turkey.
She continued to play guitar until she was physically unable to. When pain in her hands forced her to quit playing guitar five years ago, she returned to the piano and keyboard.
“It was kind of hard to have to quit guitar because I played it so long,” Damron said. “But I still enjoy music and I enjoy playing keyboard.”
She has played at the Western Swing Festival the past two years and said continues to play because it’s what she loves to do.
She attributes her ability to play into her 90s to “keeping active and the good Lord’s help.” She wants to keep playing as long as she can and hopes it continues to bring people joy.
“It’s not that I do it to be in front of people,” Damron said. “I just enjoy it and I hope they do, too.”